PORTLAND – State Rep. John McDonough says he won’t give up the District 32 House seat without a fight – and he’s switching political parties to prove his point.

The longtime Portland Democrat has joined the Republican Party in hopes of running in the November election against Edward Suslovic, who beat him with 58 percent of the vote in the June primary.

Now McDonough is positioning himself to become the Republican nominee in the Nov. 5 election.

“I’m not ready to give up this fight,” said McDonough, a two-term representative. “There’s life after June.”

McDonough has filed the paperwork at City Hall to change his party affiliation. The Republicans have until July 22 to hold a caucus and announce their replacement for Jason Fortin, the GOP candidate who withdrew from the race and encouraged McDonough to take his place.

McDonough said he was a registered Republican until the mid-1970s, and has been thinking about switching back because he hasn’t been happy with the House Democratic leadership.

A former Portland city councilor and mayor, McDonough said he started looking seriously at his re-election options after he received many calls and letters from supporters who were disappointed that he lost the primary.

Suslovic, who won the primary by a vote of 587-433, said he was surprised by McDonough’s switch.

“I think it’s sad that someone seems unable to accept the decision of the voters,” said Suslovic. “It will be up to the voters to decide, again, how credible his reasons for switching are.

“It’s interesting if [McDonough] thinks he can be successful in an overwhelmingly Democratic district after abandoning the Democratic Party.”

Green Independent candidate Joshua Dolby is also running in District 32.